Needle puller



Jan; 14, "1964 w. s. sHEE NEEDLE: FULLER Filed April 26, 1962 INVEN-roR William S. Shee ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,117,707 NEEDLE PULLER William S. Shee, Woodbridge, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 190,353 2 Claims. (Cl. 223-101) This invention relates to improvements in a sewing implement for 4use as an aid in hand sewing and more particularly to an improved needle pulling device.

lIt is the general object of the invention to provide a needle puller of simple and economical construction, and one that is easily manipulated to urge or force a sewing needle through material, such as heavy cloth, canvass, leather, rubber, plastic or similar materials.

A further object is to provide a needle puller having an improved arrangement for gripping and propelling the needle and for assuring quick and easy entry to the needle into engaging position while minimizing the danger of breaking the needle or injuring the user.

The above and other objects will be understood from a reading of the following detailed description of my invention i-n connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the needle puller embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing one use of the needle puller;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the needle puller;

FIG. 4 is a left-hand View of the same;

FIG. 5 is a rightahand view of the same; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 refers to a strip of `relatively soft rubber-like material having good frictional characteristics. The numeral J11 refers to a U-shaped clip of relatively hard material, such as metal or one of the plastics now in common use. Strip `10 is adapted to be folded over on itself at a transverse medial line to provide a normally open tubular bight 12 yand a pair of overlapping portions 13.

The U-shaped clip 11 consists of a pair of spaced side wings 1'4 'of like shape and a connecting end portion 15. The width of the end portion 15 positions the side wings 14 in such spaced relationship that when the clip is slipped over or clamped against the overlapping portions 13, it will serve to hold them tightly together. To permanently anchor the clip to the overlapping portions, each of the Wings is provided with inwardly projecting tubular -burrs 16 which bite into the resilient material of the strip 10. As shown in FIG. 6, the burrs 16 are preferably positioned in staggered relationship to each other so as to enhance the gripping effect of the same.

One of the desirable features `of this needle puller is the particular conical shape of the bight 12 such as shown in the several views. For this purpose, the upper edges 17 of the wings are cut on a bias so that when the clip is assembled into position, the bight 12 will assume a conical shape with the larger base at the left short end of the clip and a smaller truncated end at the right long end of said clip, thus providing for a tapered opening 118 extending lengthwise through the bight 12.

3,117,707 iatented Jan. 14, 1964 While the drawing shows the tapered opening 18 extending completely through the bight `12, it is within the purview of the invention to dimension the overlapping portions 13, or the wings 14 of the `clip 11, or both, so that when the two parts are assembled together, the opening at the smaller end of the bight will be sealed or entirely closed. This =will insure a greater safety factor in preventing the sharp point of the needle passing entirely through the bight.

If desired, and to afford a better gripping hold upon the needle puller, portions of the outside surfaces of wings 14 may be knurled or cross-hatched as indicated at 19.

One of the uses of the needle puller is shown in FIG. 2 where the operator is pulling ya needle through a relatively thick piece of folded material S and stitching it together with thread T. In heavy material, it is difficult to force a needle through such material, especially when the enlarged eye and the double strand of thread are at the point of being pulled therethrough, and beyond the aid `of the usual thimble. By positioning my needle puller 4over the needle shank, and then compressing the rubber bight `12, against the needle, a firm frietional grip can be obtained sufficiently to pull it through any material offering severe needle penetrating resistance.

What `I claim is:

1. A needle-grasping implement for use in hand sewing, comprising (a) a strip of relatively soft, exible material having frictional characteristics, said strip being folded upon itself with major portions thereof arranged in overlapping relationship;

(b) a rigid clip of U-shaped formation engaged around said overlapping portions to h'old them tightvly together, the sides of said U-shaped clip terminating a substantial distance from the fold line of said strip leaving `a flem'ble bight at the fold which is normally open for receiving a needle therein; and,

(c) means for permanently securing said clip to said overlapping portions of said strip.

2. A needle-grasping implement for use in hand sewing, comprising (a) a strip of relatively soft, flexible material having frictional characteristics, said strip being folded upon itself with major portions thereof arranged in overlapping relationship;

(b) a rigid clip of U-shaped formation, said clip being engaged around said overlapping portions to hold them tightly together, the free edges of said U-shaped clip being angled so that said clip extends substantially closer to the fold of said strip at one end of said fold than at the other end, whereby a conical bight is formed at the fold with a tapering longitudinal opening therethrough for receiving a needle therein; and

(c) means for permanently securing said clip to said overlapping portions of said strip.

Sinclair et al. Mar. 6, 1951 Cline Oct. 8, 1957 

1. A NEEDLE-GRASPING IMPLEMENT FOR USE IN HAND SEWING, COMPRISING (A) A STRIP OF RELATIVELY SOFT, FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING FRICTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, SAID STRIP BEING FOLDED UPON ITSELF WITH MAJOR PORTIONS THEREOF ARRANGED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP; (B) A RIGID CLIP OF U-SHAPED FORMATION ENGAGED AROUND SAID OVERLAPPING PORTIONS TO HOLD THEM TIGHTLY TOGETHER, THE SIDES OF SAID U-SHAPED CLIP TERMINATING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE FOLD LINE OF SAID STRIP LEAVING A FLEXIBLE BIGHT AT THE FOLD WHICH IS NORMALLY OPEN FOR RECEIVING A NEEDLE THEREIN; AND, (C) MEANS FOR PERMANENTLY SECURING SAID CLIP TO SAID OVERLAPPING PORTIONS OF SAID STRIP. 